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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  873-4503 


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Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/iCMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  IVIicroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


vV 


* 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 


n 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagee 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couvervure  restaur6e  et/ou  pellicul6e 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


□    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

0    Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documer 


D 


jments 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout^es 
lors  dune  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  film^es. 

Additional  comments./ 
Commentaires  suppl6mentaires; 


L'instltut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemr'iire 
qu'il  lui  a  Hi  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exempiaire  qui  sont  pent-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  pnuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite.  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m^thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


I      I    Coloured  pages/ 


□ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pellicul6es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxe( 
Pages  ddcolordes,  tachetdes  ou  piqu^es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  indgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  matdriel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


I      I  Pages  damaged/ 

I      I  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

r~:\  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      I  Pages  detached/ 

FT]  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I      I  Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc..  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6X6  filmdes  6  nouveau  de  fapon  6 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmd  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


J 


12X 


16X 


20X 


26X 


XX 


24X 


28X 


n 


32X 


The  copy  film«d  here  hat  bean  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generotity  of: 

Douglas  Library 
Queen's  University 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quaiity 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  Iceeping  with  the 
filming  contract  (.pacifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  Illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  iorge  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  fllmod 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaire  fllm«  fut  reproduit  grAce  d  la 
gAnArosit*  da: 

Douglas  Library 
Queen's  University 

Les  Images  sulvantes  ont  AtA  reproduites  avac  ie 
plus  grand  soin.  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nettet*  de  l'exemplaire  film«,  et  en 
conformity  avac  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplalres  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimAe  sont  filmte  en  commen^ant 
par  Ie  premier  plat  et  en  termlnant  soit  par  la 
dernldre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impresslon  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  Ie  second 
plat,  selon  Ie  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplalres 
originaux  sont  fllmte  en  commen9ant  par  la 
premlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impresslon  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboies  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  Ie 
cas:  Ie  symboie  — ^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  Ie 
symbols  y  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  csrtes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diff«rents. 
Lorsque  ie  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seui  cllchA,  11  est  filmA  d  partir 
de  I'angle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bes,  en  prenant  ie  nombre 
d'images  nAcessalre.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
lllustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

mn 


!  i 


I, 


ii 


<Dll»  :l>outJ)  Uraflftjef. 


No.  S7. 


Manners  and 

Customs  of  the 

Indians. 


By  THOMAS    MORTON. 


AN    KXTRACT    l'K<l.M    HIS    "  NKW    EMII.ISH    CANAAN,"    1637. 


Of  their  Houfes  and  Habitations. 

The  Natives  of  New  England  are  accuftonied  to  build 
them  houfes  much  like  the  wild  Irifli ;  they  gather  Poles  in  the 
woodes  and  put  the  great  end  of  them  in  the  ground,  placinge 
them  in  forme  of  a  circle  or  circumference,  and,  bendinge  the 
topps  of  them  in  forme  of  an  Arch,  they  bind  them  together  wiih 
the  Barke  of  Walnut  trees,  which  is  wondrous  tuffe,  fo  that  they 
make  the  fame  round  on  the  Topp  for  the  imooke  of  their  fire 
to  affend  and  paffe  through  ;  thefe  they  cover  with  malts,  fome 
made  of  reeds  and  fome  of  longe  flagges,  or  fedge,  finely  fowed 
together  with  needles  made  of  the  fplinter  bones  of  a  Cranes 
legge,  with  threeds  made  of  their  Indian  hempe,  which  their 
groueth  naturally,  leaving  feverall  places  for  dores,  which  are 
covered  with  mats,  which  may  be  rowled  up  and  let  downe 
againe  at  their  pleafures,  making  ufe  of  the  feverall  dores, 
according  as  the  winde  litts.  The  fire  is  alwayes  made  in  the 
middefl  of  the  houfe,  with  winde  fals  commonly:  yet  fome  limes 
they  fell  a  tree  that  groweth  neere  the  houfe,  and,  by  drawing 
in  the  end  thereof,  maintaine  the  fire  on  both  fids,  burning  the 
tree  by  Degrees  (horter  and  (horter,  untill  it  be  all  confumed; 
for  it  burnetii  night  and  day.  Their  lodging  is  made  in  three 
places  of  the  houfe  about  the  fire;  they  lye  upon  plankes,  com- 
monly about  a  foote  or  i8.  inches  aboue  the  ground,  raifed  upon 
railes  that  are  borne  up  upon  forks;  they  lay  mats  under  them, 
and  Coats  of   Deares  fkinnes,  otters,  beavers,  Racownes,  and 


I:)!: 


1 

II- if 


It- 


of  Beares  hides,  nil  which  they  Iiave  dieffed  and  converted 
into  j^ood  letlier,  willi  the  liaire  on,  for  tlieir  coverings:  and  in 
this  manner  they  lye  as  warnie  as  they  delire.  In  the  night 
they  take  their  refl ;  in  the  day  time  either  the  kettle  is  on  with 
fifli  or  riefli,  by  no  allowance,  or  elfe  the  fire  is  imployed  in  roafl- 
ing  cf  lilhes,  which  they  delight  in.  The  aire  doeth  beget  good 
ftomacks,  and  they  feede  continually,  and  are  no  niggards  of 
their  \ittels ;  for  they  are  willing  that  anyone  (hail  eate  with 
them.  Nay,  if  any  one  that  Ihall  come  into  their  houfes  and 
there  fall  a  lleepe,  when  they  fee  him  difpofed  to  lye  downe, 
they  will  fpread  n  matt  for  him  of  their  owne  accord,  and  lay  a 
roule  of  fkinnes  for  a  bouHler,  and  let  him  lye.  Jf  hee  lleepe 
untiil  their  meate  be  diflied  up,  they  will  fet  a  wooden  boule  of 
iDcate  by  him  that  lleepeth,  and  wake  him  faying,  Cattup  keene 
Meckin:  'I'hat  is.  If  you  be  hungry,  there  is  meat  for  you,  where 
if  you  will  eate  you  may.     Such  is  their  Humanity. 

Likewife,  wiien  they  are  minded  to  remoove,  they  carry 
away  ilie  mats  with  them  ;  other  materiales  the  place  adjoyning 
will  yeald.  They  ufe  not  to  winter  and  fununer  in  one  place, 
for  that  would  be  a  reafon  to  make  fuell  fcarfe  ;  but,  after  the 
manner  of  the  gentry  of  Civilized  natives,  remoove  for  their 
pleafures ;  fonie  times  to  their  hunting  places,  where  they  re- 
maine  keeping  good  hofpitality  for  that  feafon  ;  and  fonietimes 
to  their  fifliing  places,  where  they  abide  for  that  feafon  likewife; 
and  at  the  fi)ring,  when  fifli  comes  in  plentifully,  they  have 
nieetinges  from  feverall  places,  where  they  exercife  themfelves 
in  gamiiige  and  playing  of  jugllnge  trickes  and  all  manner  of 
Revelles,  which  they  are  deligted  in  ;  [fo]  that  it  is  admirable 
to  behould  what  paftime  they  ufe  of  feverall  kindes,  every  one 
driving  to  furpaffe  each  other.  After  this  manner  they  fpend 
their  time. 

0/  the  Indians  apparrell. 

The  Indians  in  thefe  parts  do  make  their  apparrell  of  the 
(kinnes  of  feverall  fortes  of  beaftes,  and  commonly  of  thofe  that 
doe  frequent  thofe  partes  where  they  doe  live  ;  yet  fome  of 
them,  for  variety,  will  have  the  fkinnes  of  fuch  beafts  that  fre- 
quent the  partes  of  their  neighbors,  which  they  purchafe  of 
them  by  Commerce  and  Trade. 

Thefe  fkinnes  they  convert  into  very  good  lether,  making 
the  fame  plume  and  foft.  Some  of  these  fkinnes  they  drelTe 
with  the  haire  on,  and  fome  with  the  haire  off ;  the  hairy  fide  in 
winter  time  they  weare  next  their  bodies,  and  in  warme  weather 


of 

tre- 

of 

ling 

iffe 

in 

:her 


they  wcnre  the  hnire  ontwardes  :  they  make  likowife  fome 
Coates  of  the  Feathers  of  Turkies,  which  they  weave  toj^ether 
with  twine  of  their  owne  makinjre,  verv  prittilv  :  thefe  iiarineiits 
they  weare  like  mantels  knit  o\'er  their  lhr)uhlers,  and  |jut  under 
their  arine  ;  thev  have  Hkewife  another  sort  of  mantels,  made 
of  Mofe  n<innes,  which  heart  is  a  great  Large  Deere  fo  I)igge  as 
a  horfe  ;  thefe  tkinnes  they  connnonly  drelfe  hare,  and  make 
them  wondrous  white,  and  llripe  them  with  fize  round  about  the 
borders,  in  forme  hke  Kice  fet  on  by  a  Taylor,  and  fome  they 
ftripe  witii  tize  in  workes  of  feverall  fafliions  very  curious, 
according  to  the  feverall  fantafies  of  the  workemen,  wherein 
they  drive  to  excell  one  another:  And  Mantels  made  of  Heares 
fkinnes  is  an  ufuall  wearinge,  among  the  Natives  that  live  where 
the  lieares  doe  haunt :  they  make  (hooes  of  Mofe  n<innes,  which 
is  the  priucipall  leather  ufed  to  that  purpofe  ;  and  for  want 
of  fuch  lether  (which  is  the  llrongest)  they  make  fliooes  of 
Deeres  fkinnes,  very  handfomly  and  connnodious;  and,  of  fuch 
deeres  fkinnes  as  they  dreffe  bare,  they  make  flockinges  that 
comes  within  their  fhooes,  like  a  Ilirrrop  ftockinge,  and  is  falhied 
above  at  their  belt,  which  is  about  their  nnddell ;  Every 
male,  after  hee  attaines  unto  the  age  which  they  call  Pubes, 
wereth  a  belt  about  his  middell,  and  a  broad  peece  of  lether 
that  goeih  betweene  his  leggs  and  is  tuckt  up  both  before  and 
behinde  under  that  belt;  .  .  .  thofe  garments  they  allwaycs 
put  on,  when  they  goe  a  huntinge,  to  keepe  their  (kinnes  from 
the  brufli  of  the  Shiubbs :  and  when  they  iiave  their  Appar- 
rell  one  they  looke  like  Irifh  in  their  troufes,  the  Stockinges 
joyne  fo  to  their  breeches.  A  good  well  growne  deere  fkin  is 
of  great  account  with  them,  and  it  mufl  have  the  tale  on,  or 
elfe  they  account  it  defaced  ;  the  tale  being  three  times  as 
long  as  the  tales  of  our  EnglilTi  Deere,  yea  foure  times  fo 
longe,  this  when  they  travell  is  raped  round  about  their  body 
and,  with  a  girdle  of  their  making,  bound  round  about  their 
middles,  to  which  girdle  is  faflned  a  bagg,  in  which  his  instru- 
ments be  with  which  hee  can  ftrike  fire  upon  any  occafion. 

Thus  with  their  bow  in  their  left  hand,  and  their  quiuer  of 
Arrowes  at  their  back,  hanging  one  their  left  Ihoulder  with  the 
lower  end  of  it  in  their  right  hand,  they  will  runne  away  a  dogg 
trot  untill  they  come  to  their  journey  end  ;  and,  in  tliis  kinde 
of  ornament,  they  doe  feeme  to  me  to  be  handfomer  than  when 
they  are  in  Englifh  apparrell,  their  gefture  being  anfvverable  to 
their  one  habit  and  not  unto  ours. 

Their  women  have  (hooes  and  ftockinges  to  weare  likewife 
when  they  pleafe,  fuch  as  the  men  have,  but  the  mantle  they 


i  --t 


•i- 


t.  <  I  • 


ufe  to  cover  their  nakedness  with  is  much  longer  then  that 
which  llie  men  ufe  ;  f(jr,  as  ihe  men  have  one  Deeres  Ikinn,  the 
women  have  two  foed  to;^e(her  at  the  full  lenght,  and  it  is  fo 
lardge  that  it  trailcs  after  them  like  a  great  Ladies  trane  ;  and 
in  time  I  thinke  they  may  have  their  Pages  to  beare  them  up; 
and  where  the  men  ufe  but  one  Heares  (kinn  for  a  Mantle,  the 
women  have  two  foed  together;  and  if  any  of  their  women 
would  at  any  time  Ihift  one,  they  take  that  which  they  intend  to 
make  ufe  of,  and  caft  it  over  them  round,  before  they  Ihifte 
away  the  other,  for  modelty,  .  .  .  which  is  to  be  noted  in  people 
uncivilized;  therein  they  feeme  to  have  as  much  modefly  as 
civilized  people,  and  deferve  to  be  applauded  for  it. 

0/  their  J^everena\  and  refpecl  to  ij^e. 

It  is  a  thing  to  be  admired,  and  indeede  made  a  prefident, 
that  a  Nation  yet  uncivilizied  Ihould  more  refpedl  age  than  fome 
nations  civilized,  lince  there  are  fo  many  precepts  both  of  divine 
and  humane  writers  extant  to  inftrudl  more  Civill  Nations :  in 
that  particular,  wherein  they  excell,  the  younger  are  allwayes 
obedient  unto  the  elder  people,  and  at  their  cominaunds  in 
every  refpect  without  grummbling,  in  all  councels,  (as  therein 
tliey  are  circumfpetl  to  do  their  acciones  by  advife  and  coun- 
cell,  and  not  rallily  or  inccnfiderately,)  the  younger  mens  opin- 
ion fliall  be  heard,  but  the  old  mens  opinion  and  councell 
imbraced  and  followed:  befides,  as  the  elder  feede  and  provide 
for  the  younger  in  infancy,  fo  doe  the  younger,  after  being 
growne  to  yeares  of  manhood,  provide  for  thofe  that  be  aged; 
and  in  diflribution  of  Acctes  the  elder  men  are  firll  ferved  by 
their  difpenfator;  and  their  counfels  (efpecially  if  they  be 
powahs)  are  efleemed  as  oracles  amongfl  the  younger  Natives. 

The  confideration  of  thefe  things,  mee  thinkes.  (liould  re- 
duce fome  of  our  irregular  young  people  of  civilized  Nations, 
when  this  (lory  fhall  come  to  their  knowledge,  to  better  man- 
ners, and  make  them  afliamed  of  their  former  error  in  this 
kinde,  and  to  become  hereafter  more  duetyfull  ;  which  I,  as  a 
friend,  (by  obfervation  having  found,)  have  herein  recorded  for 
that  purpofe. 

0/  the  maintaining  of  their  Reputation. 

Reputation  is  fuch  a  thing  that  it  keepes  many  men  in 
awe,  even  amongft  Civilized  nations,  and  is  very  much  ftood 
upon  :  it  is  (as  one  hath  very  well  noted)  the  awe  of  great 
men  and  of  Kings.     And,  fince  I  have  obferved  it  to  be  main- 


5 


'g 


taiiied  amonj^ft  Sahai^e  people,  I  cannot  cluife  hut  <;ive  an 
infLince  thereof  in  tiiis  treaiife,  to  continue  the  coininon  re- 
ceaved  opinion  thereof. 

'I'he  Sachem  or  San;;Hiiore  of  Sagus  made  choi.e.  when 
hee  came  to  mans  ellate,  of  a  Lady  of  noble  diicent,  Daii;^hter 
to  Papali(-|uineo,  the  Saciiem  or  Sagamore  of  the  territories 
neare  Merrimack  River,  a  man  of  the  bell  note  and  ellimation 
in  all  thole  parts,  and  (as  my  Countryman  Mr.  Wood  declares 
in  his  profpect)  a  great  Nigromancer;  this  Lady  the  younge 
Sachem  with  the  confent  and  good  lii<ing  of  hei  father  marries, 
and  takes  for  his  wife.  Great  entertainement  hee  and  his 
receaved  in  ihofe  parts  at  her  fathers  hands,  where  they  weare 
felted  in  tiie  bell  manner  that  might  be  expected,  according 
to  the  Cull  )me  of  their  nation,  with  reveling  and  fuch  other 
folemnities  as  is  ufuall  amongfl  them.  The  folemnity  being 
ended,  Papafiquineo  causes  a  feledled  number  of  his  men  to 
waite  upon  his  Daughter  home  into  thofe  parts  that  did  prop- 
erly belong  to  her  I^ord  and  hufband  ;  where  the  attendants 
had  entertainment  by  the  Sachem  of  Saugus  and  his  Country- 
men :  the  folemnity  being  ended,  the  attendants  were  gratified. 

Not  long  after  the  new  married  Lady  had  a  great  defire 
to  fee  her  father  and  her  native  country,  from  whence  Ihee 
came;  her  Lord  willing  to  pleafure  her,  and  not  deny  her 
requell,  amongit  them  thought  to  be  reafonable,  commanded 
a  felecled  number  of  his  owne  men  to  conduct  his  Lady  to  her 
Father,  wher,  with  great  refpe6l,  they  brought  her  ;  and,  having 
feafted  there  a  while,  returned  to  their  owne  country  againe, 
leaving  the  Lady  to  continue  there  at  her  owne  pleafuie, 
amongfl  her  friends  and  old  acquaintance  ;  where  Ihee  paffed 
away  the  time  for  a  while,  and  in  the  end  defired  to  returne 
to  her  Lord  againe.  Her  father,  the  old  Papafiquineo,  having 
notice  of  her  intent,  fent  fome  of  his  men  on  ambaffage  to 
the  younge  Sachem,  his  fonne  in  law,  to  let  him  underlland 
that  his  daughter  was  not  willing  to  abfent  her  felfe  from  his 
company  any  longer,  and  therfore,  as  the  meffengers  had  in 
charge,  defired  the  younge  Lord  to  fend  a  convoy  for  her  ; 
but  hee,  Handing  upon  tearmes  of  honor,  and  the  maintaining 
of  his  reputation,  returned  to  his  father  in  law  this  anfwere, 
that,  when   fhe  departed  from  him,  hee  caufed  his  men  to  waite 


upon 


poi 


her  to  her  fathers  territories,  as  it  did  become  hi 


m 


but. 


now  fhee  had  an  intent  to  returne,  it  did  become  her  father  to 
fend  her  back  with  a  convoy  of  his  own  people  ;  and  that  it 
flood  not  with  his  reputation    to  make  himfelf  or  his  men    fo 


lbs 


I  i 


h 


hi 


i-  '.■ 


fervile,  to  fetch  Iicr  a^aine,  'I'lic  old  Sachem,  Papaluiuiiieo, 
having  this  iiielTajj;e  reiurned,  was  inraged  to  think  that  his 
youn;;  foil  in  hiw  did  not  ellcenie  him  at  a  higher  rate  than 
to  capitulate  with  him  about  the  matter,  and  returne[d]  him 
this  Iharpe  reply  ;  tiiat  his  daugiiters  bloud  and  birth  deferved 
more  refpetl  than  to  be  fo  (ligiited  ;  and,  therefore,  if  he  would 
have  her  company,  hee  were  bell  to  fend  or  come  for  her. 

The  younge  Sachem,  not  willing  to  under  value  himfelfe 
and  being  a  man  of  a  llout  fpirit,  did  not  (lick  to  fay  that  hee 
Ihould  either  fend  her  by  his  owne  Convey,  or  keepe  her;  for 
hee  was  deternnned  not  to  ftoope  fo  lowe. 

So  much  thefe  two  Sachems  flood  upon  tearmes  of  repu- 
tation with  each  other,  the  one  would  not  fend  her,  and  the 
other  would  not  fend  for  her,  leall  it  Ihould  be  any  diminilhing 
of  honor  on  his  part  that  Ihould  feeme  to  comply,  that  the 
Lady  (when  I  came  out  of  tiie  Country)  remained  ilill  with 
her  father  ;  which  is  a  thinge  worth  the  noting,  that  Salvage 
people  fhf)uld  feeke  to  maintaine  their  reputation  fo  much  as 
they  doe.* 

0/  their  irafficke  and  trade  one  with  another. 

Althou(;h  thefe  people  have  not  the  ufe  of  navigation, 
whereby  they  may  tratiiicke  as  other  nations,  that  are  civilized, 
ufe  to  doe,  yet  doe  they  barter  for  fuch  commodilies  as  they 
have,  and  have  a  kinde  of  beads  inlleede  of  money,  to  buy 
withall  fuch  things  as  they  want,  which  they  call  Wampampeak  : 
and  it  is  of  two  forts,  the  one  is  white,  the  other  is  of  a  violet 
coloure.  Thefe  are  made  of  the  Ihells  of  fiflie.  Tiie  white 
with  them  is  as  fdver  with  us  ;  the  other  as  our  gould  :  and 
for  thefe  beads  they  buy  and  fell,  not  onely  amongfl  ihemfelves, 
but  even  with  us. 

We  have  ufed  to  fell  them  any  of  our  commodities  for 
this  Wampampeak,  becaufe  we  know  we  can  have  beaver 
againe  of  them  for  it :  and  thefe  beads  are  currant  in  all  the 
parts  of  New  England,  from  one  end  of  the  Coall  to  the 
other. 

And  although  lome  have  indevoured  by  example  to  have 
the  like  made  of  the  f;\me  kinde  of  fliels,  yet  none  hath  ever, 
as  yet,  attained    to   any  perfection   in   the  compofurc  of  them, 


•This  incident  is  the  subject  of  Wliittier's  poem,  The  Bridal  of  Pennacook;  but 
Adams  —  sue  his  note  in  tlie  New  English  Canaan,  p.  155  —  doubts  its  autlienticity. — 
Editor. 


but  that  the  Salvages  have  found  a  great  difference  to  he  in 
the  one  and  the  other;  and  have  knowne  the  counterfeit  l)eads 
from  tliofe  of  tlieir  owne  making  ;  and  have,  and  doe  (light  liiem. 

The  (ki lines  of  healls  arc  fould  and  bartered,  to  fuch 
people  as  have  none  of  the  fame  kinde  in  the  parts  where 
they  live. 

Likewile  they  have  eartiien  potts  of  divers  fizes,  from  a 
quarte  to  a  gallon,  2.  or  3.  to  boyle  their  vitels  in  ;  very  (Ironge, 
though  they  be  thin  like  our  Iron  potts. 

They  have  dainty  wooden  bowles  of  maple,  of  highe  price 
amongll  them;  and  thefe  are  difperfed  by  bartering  one  with 
the  other,  and  are  but  in  certaine  parts  of  the  Country  made, 
where  the  feverall  trades  are  appropriated  to  the  inhabitants 
of  thofe  parts  onely. 

So  likewile  (at  the  feafon  of  the  yeare)  the  Salvages  that 
live  by  the  Sea  fide  for  trade  with  the  inlanders  for  frelh  water, 
reles  curious  iilver  reles,  which  are  bought  up  of  fuch  as  have 
them  not  frequent  in  other  places :  chellnuts,  and  fuch  like 
ufefull  things  as  one  place  affordeth,  are  fould  to  the  inhabi- 
tants of  another,  where  they  are  a  novelty  accompted  amongll 
the  natives  of  the  land.  And  there  is  no  fuch  thing  to  barter 
withall,  as  is  their  Whampampeake. 


Of  their  Magazines  or  Storehoiv/es. 

These  people  are  not  without  providence,  though  they  be 
uncivilized,  but  are  carcfull  to  preferve  foede  in  ftore  againft 
winter;  which  is  the  corne  that  they  laboure  and  dreffe  in  the 
lummer.  And,  although  they  eate  freely  of  it,  whiles  it  is  grow- 
inge,  yet  have  they  a  care  to  keepe  a  convenient  portion  thereof 
to  releeve  them  in  the  dead  of  winter,  (like  to  the  Ant  and  the 
Bee,)  which  they  put  under  ground. 

Their  barnes  are  holes  made  in  the  earth,  that  will  hold  a 
Hogfhead  of  corne  a  peece  in  them.  In  thefe  (when  their  corne 
is  out  of  the  hufke  and  well  dried)  they  lay  their  ftore  in  greate 
baflcets  (which  they  make  of  Sparke)  with  matts  under,  about 
the  fides,  and  on  the  top;  and  putting  it  into  the  place  made 
for  it,  they  cover  it  with  earth:  and  in  this  manner  it  is  pre- 
ferved  from  deflru6lion  or  putrifadtion ;  to  be  ufed  in  cafe  of 
neceffity,  and  not  elfe. 

And  I  am  perfwaded,  that  if  they  knew  the  benefit  of  Salte 
(as  they  may  in  time,)  and  the  meanes  to  make  falte  meate  frelh 
ngaine,  they  would  endeaver  to  preferve  fifhe  for  winter,  as  well 


■  '-iff. 


r" 


as  come;  and  that  if  any  tliin;^e  bring  them  to  civility,  it  will 
be  the  ufe  of  Salte,  to  have  foode  in  llore,  which  is  a  rheife 
benefit  in  a  civili/cd  ConMnonwealtli. 

Thefe  people  have  bep;unne  already  to  incline  to  the  ufe  of 
Salte.  Many  of  thetn  would  begge  Salte  of  inee  for  to  carry 
home  with  them,  that  had  frecpiented  our  howfes  and  had  been 
acquainted  with  our  Salte  meats  ;  and  Salte  I  willingly  gave 
them,  although  I  fould  them  all  things  elfe,  onely  bccaufe  they 
fhf>iil(l  be  delighted  with  tlie  ufe  tliere  of,  and  thinke  it  a  com- 
modity of  no  value  in  it  folfe.  allthough  the  benefit  was  great 
that  might  be  had  by  tiie  ufe  of  it. 

Of  their  admirable  perfeflion,  in  the  u/-:  of  the  fences. 


■('•.; 


This  is  a  thinge  not  onely  obferved  by  mee  and  diverfe  of 
the  Salvages  of  New  England,  but,  alfo,  by  the  French  men  in 
Nova  l'"rancia,  and  therefore  I  am  tlie  more  incouraged  to  pub- 
li(h  in  this  Treaiice  my  obfervation  of  them  in  the  w'i^  of  tlieire 
fences:  which  is  a  thinge  that  I  Ihould  not  eafdy  have  bin  in- 
duced to  beleeve,  if  I  my  fclfe  iiad  not  bin  an  eie  witneffe  of 
what  I  (hall  relate. 

I  have  obferved  that  the  Salvages  have  the  fence  of  feeing 
fo  farre  beyond  any  of  our  Nation,  that  one  would  allmofl  be- 
lee\e  they  had  intelligence  of  the  Devill  fometimes,  when  they 
have  tould  us  of  a  Ihipp  at  Sea,  which  they  have  feene  foener 
by  one  hower,  yea,  two  bowers  fayle,  then  any  Englilh  man 
that  flood  by  of  purpofe  to  looke  out,  their  fight  is  fo  excellent. 

Their  eies  indeede  are  black  as  iett ;  and  that  coler  is 
accounted  the  flrongert  for  fight.  And  as  they  excell  us  in  this 
particular  fo  much  noted,  fo  I  thinke  they  excell  us  in  all 
the  red. 

'I'his  I  am  furc  I  have  well  obferved,  that  in  the  fence  of 
fmelling  they  have  very  great  perfection  ;  which  is  confirmed  by 
the  opinion  of  the  French  that  are  planted  about  Canada,  who 
have  made  relation  that  they  are  fo  perfedt  in  the  ufe  of  that 
fence,  that  they  will  diltingullh  between  a  Spaniard  and  a 
Frenchman  oy  the  fent  of  the  hand  onely.  .\nd  I  am  per- 
fwaded  that  the  Author  of  this  Relation  has  feene  very  prob- 
able reafons  that  have  induced  him  to  be  of  that  opinion ; 
and  I  am  the  more  willing  to  give  credit  thereunto,  becaufe  I 
have  obferved  in  them  fo  much  as  that  comes  to. 


I  have  feene  a  Oeare  {.alVe  by  me  upon  a  neck  of  Land, 
and  a  Salvage  that  has  piirfucd  him  by  the  view.  I  have  ac- 
companied him  in  this  purfuite;  and  the  Salvage,  pricking  the 
Deare.  comes  where  hee  tindes  the  view  of  two  deares  together, 
leading  leveral  wayes.  One,  hee  was  lure,  was  frelh,  but  which 
(by  the  fence  of  feeing)  hee  could  not  judge ;  therefore,  with 
his  knife,  hee  diggs  up  the  earth  of  one  ;  and  by  fmelling, 
fayes,  that  was  not  of  the  frelh  heare:  then  diggs  hee  up  the 
other;  and  viewing  and  fmelling  to  that,  concludes  it  to  be  the 
view  of  the  frelli  l)eare,  which  hee  had  purfued;  and  thereby 
followes  the  chafe,  and  killes  that  Deare,  and  I  did  eate  jiart 
of  it  with  him  :  fuch  is  their  perfection  in  theL    wo  fences. 


0/  f/ieir  prcffy  conjitri'ii^  tt':' s. 

If  we  doe  not  judge  amilfe  of  thefe  Saiv.i}.,  s  in  account- 
ing thta.  .\ itches,  yet  out  of  a'l  quellion  we  v\:\)  be  bould  to 
conclude  them  to  be  but  weake  witches,  fuch  of  them  as  wee 
call  by  the  names  of  Powahs :  fome  correlpondeucy  they  have 
with  the  Devil  out  of  a!  doubt,  as  by  fome  of  their  accions,  in 
which  they  glory,  is  manifefled.  I'apaliquineo,  that  Sachem 
or  Sagamore,  is  a  Powah  of  greate  ellimation  amongit  all  kinde 
of  Salvages  there :  hee  is  at  their  Revels  (which  is  the  time 
when  a  great  company  of  Salvages  meete  from  fever  ill  parts 
of  the  Country,  in  amity  with  their  neighbours)  hath  ad- 
vaunced  his  honor  in  his  feats  or  jugling  tricks  (as  I  may 
right  tearme  them)  to  the  admiration  of  the  fped^ators,  whome 
hee  endevoured  to  perfwade  that  he  would  goe  under  water  to 
the  further  fide  of  a  river,  to  broade  for  any  man  to  undertake 
with  a  breath,  which  thing  hee  performed  by  fwimming  over, 
and  deluding  the  company  with  calling  a  mill  before  their  eies 
that  fee  him  enter  in  and  come  out,  but  no  part  of  the  way 
hee  has  bin  feene :  likewife  by  our  Englifh,  in  the  heat  of  all 
fummer  to  make  Ice  appeare  in  a  bowle  of  faire  water  ;  firll, 
having  the  water  fet  before  him,  hee  hath  begunne  his  incan- 
tation according  to  their  ufuall  accullome,  and  before  the  fame 
has  bin  ended  a  thick  Clowde  has  darkned  the  aire  and,  on  a 
fodane,  a  thunder  clap  hath  bin  heard  that  has  amazed  the 
natives :  in  an  inflant  hee  hath  fliewed  a  firme  peece  of  Ice  to 
flote  in  the  midded  of  the  bowle  in  the  prefence  of  the  vulgar 
people,  which  doubtles  was  done  by  the  agility  of  Satan,  his 
con  fort. 


>  Vi 


10 


■:■•■,' 


p-l 

i'ii' 

i  ^M  : 

m  ! 

''-.>! 


■■hi 


And  by  meanes  of  thefe  Heights,  and  fuch  like  trivial 
things  as  thefe,  they  gaine  fuch  ertimation  amongfl  the  reft  of 
the  Salvages  that  it  is  thought  a  very  impious  matter  for  any 
man  to  derogate  from  the  words  of  thefe  Powahs.  In  fo  much 
as  hee  that  fhould  llight  them,  is  thought  to  commit  a  crime  no 
leffe  hainous  amongft  them  as  facriledge  is  with  us,  as  may 
appeare  by  this  one  paflage,  which  I  wil  fet  forth  for  an  in- 
ftance. 

A  neighbour  of  mine  that  had  entertain'd  a  Salvage  into 
his  fervice,  to  be  his  factor  for  the  beaver  trade  amongft  his 
countrymen,  delivered  unto  him  divers  parcells  of  commodities 
fit  for  them  to  trade  with ;  amongft  the  reft  there  was  one  coate 
of  more  efteeme  then  any  of  the  other,  and  with  this  his  new 
entertained  marchant  man  travels  amonft  his  countrymen  to 
truck  them  away  for  beaver :  as  our  cuftome  hath  bin,  the 
Salvage  went  up  into  the  Country  amongft  his  neighbours  for 
beaver,  and  returned  with  fome,  but  not  enough  anfwerable  to 
his  Mafteers  expectation,  but  being  called  to  an  accompt,  and 
efpecially  for  that  one  Coate  of  fpeciall  note,  made  anfwer  that 
he  had  given  that  coate  to  Tantoquineo,  a  Powah :  to  which 
his  mafter  in  a  rage  cryed,  what  have  I  to  doe  with  Tanto- 
quineo ?  The  Salvage,  very  angry  at  the  matter,  cryed,  what 
you  fpeake  ?  you  are  not  a  very  good  man ;  wil  you  not  give 
Tantoq.  a  coat  ?  whats  this  ?  as  if  he  had  offered  Tantoquineo 
the  greateft  indignity  that  could  be  devifed :  fo  great  is  the 
eftimation  and  reverence  that  thefe  people  have  of  thefe  lug- 
ling  Powahs,  who  are  ufually  fent  for  when  any  perfon  is  ficke 
and  ill  at  eafe  to  recover  them,  for  which  they  receive  rewards 
as  doe  our  Chirgeons  and  Phifitions ;  and  they  doe  make  a 
trade  of  it,  and  boaft  of  their  Ikill  where  they  come  :  (^ne 
amongft  the  reft  did  undertake  to  cure  an  Englilliman  of  a 
fwelling  of  his  hand  for  a  parcell  of  bifkett,  which  being  de- 
livered him  hee  tooke  the  party  greived  into  the  woods  afide 
from  company,  and  with  the  helpe  of  the  devill,  (as  may  be 
conje6lured,)  quickly  recovered  him  of  that  fwelling,  and  fent 
him  about  his  worke  againe. 


It 


Of  their  duels,  and  the  honourable  ejlimation  of  viHory  obtained 

thereby. 

These  Salvages  are  not  apt  to  quarrell  one  with  another: 
yet  fuch  hath  bin  the  occafion  that  a  difference  hath  happened 
which  hath  growne  to  that  height  that  it  has  not  bin  reconciled 


1 1 

otherwife  then  by  combat,  which  hath  bin  performed  in  this 
manner :  the  two  champions  prepared  for  the  tight,  with  their 
bowes  in  hand  and  a  quiver  full  of  arrowes  at  their  backs,  they 
have  entered  into  the  field ;  the  Challenger  and  challenged 
have  chofen  two  trees,  (landing  within  a  little  dillance  of  each 
other ;  they  have  cart  lotts  for  the  cheife  of  the  trees,  then 
either  champion  fetting  himfelfe  behinde  his  tree  watches  ar> 
advantage  to  let  i\y  his  (liafts,  and  to  gall  his  enemy;  there 
they  continue  Ihooting  at  each  other ;  if  by  chaunce  they  efpie 
any  part  open,  they  endeavour  to  gall  the  combatant  in  that 
part,  and  ufe  much  agility  in  the  performance  of  the  tallce  they 
have  in  hand.  Kefolute  they  are  in  the  execution  of  their  ven- 
geance, when  once  they  have  begunne ;  and  will  in  no  wife  be 
daunted,  or  feeme  to  Hirinck  though  they  doe  catch  a  clap  with 
an  arrow,  but  fight  it  out  in  this  manner  untill  one  or  both  be 
ilaine. 

1  have  bin  (hewed  the  places  where  fuch  duels  have  bin 
performed,  and  have  fuond  the  trees  marked  for  a  memorial  I 
of  the  Combat,  where  that  champion  hath  ftood  that  had  the 
hap  to  be  Ilaine  in  the  duell :  and  they  count  it  the  greatert 
honor  that  can  be  to  the  ferviving  Cumbatant,  to  Ihew  the 
fcares  of  the  wounds  received  in  this  kinde  of  Conflicl,  and  if 
it  happen  to  be  on  the  arme,  as  thofe  parts  are  mort  in  danger 
in  thefe  cafes,  they  will  alwayes  weare  a  bracelet  upon  that 
place  of  the  arme,  as  a  trophy  of  honor  to  their  dying  day. 


ic 


a 

^ne 

a 

de- 

ide 

be 

ent 


ined 


0/  their e  Subtilety. 

These  people  are  not,  as  fome  have  thought,  a  dull,  or 
ilender  witted  people,  but  very  ingenious,  and  very  fubtile.  I 
could  give  maine  inrtances  to  maintaine  mine  opinion  of  them 
in  this ;  but  I  will  onely  relate  one,  which  is  a  paffage  worthy 
to  be  obferved. 

In  the  Maffachuffets  bay  lived  Cheecatawback,  the  Sachem 
or  Sagamore  of  thofe  territories,  who  had  large  dominions  which 
hee  did  appropriate  to  himfelfe. 

Into  thofe  parts  came  a  greate  company  of  Salvages  from 
the  territories  of  Narohiganfet,  to  the  number  of  loo.  perfons ; 
and  in  this  Sachems  Dominions  they  intended  to  winter. 

When  they  went  a  hunting  for  turkies  they  fpreade  over 
fuch  a  greate  fcope  of  ground  that  a  Turkie  could  hardily 
efcnoe  them :  Deare  they  killed  up  in  greate  abundance,  and 


K 


12 


!■   'A 


,'i    IF 


I  mi 


If:;  ;! 


i;  r "  i 


;■  M 


J.- 


fealled  their  bodies  very  plentifully :  Beavers  they  killed  by 
no  allowance ;  the  ikinnes  of  thofe  they  traded  away  at  Waf- 
fagufcus  with  my  neighboures  for  come,  and  fuch  other  com- 
modities as  they  had  neede  of ;  and  my  neighboures  had  a 
wonderfull  great  benefit  by  their  being  in  thofe  parts.  Yea, 
fometimes  (like  genious  fellowes)  they  would  prefent  their 
Marchant  with  a  fatt  beaver  (kmne,  alwayes  the  tayle  was  not 
diminilhed,  but  prefented  full  and  whole ;  although  the  tayle 
is  a  prefent  for  a  Sachem,  and  is  of  fuch  mafculaine  vertue  that 
if  fome  of  our  Ladies  knew  the  benefit  thereof  they  would  defire 
to  have  fliips  fent  of  purpofe  to  trade  for  the  tayle  alone  ;  it  is 
fuch  a  rarity,  as  is  not  more  efteemed  of  then  reafon  doth  re- 
quire. 

But  the  Sachem  C'heecatawbak,  (on  whofe  poffefTions  they 
ufurped,  and  converted  the  commodities  thereof  to  their  owne 
ufe,  contrary  to  his  likeing,)  not  being  of  power  to  refill  them, 
pra(5lifed  to  doe  it  by  a  fubtile  ftratagem.  And  to  that  end 
gave  it  out  amongft  us,  that  the  caufe  why  thefe  other  Salvages 
of  the  Narohiganfets  came  into  thefe  parts,  was  to  fee  what 
ftrength  we  were  of,  and  to  watch  an  opportunity  to  cut  us  off, 
and  take  that  which  they  found  in  our  cuflody  ufefull  for  them ; 
And  added  further,  they  would  burne  our  howfes,  and  that  they 
had  caught  one  of  his  men,  named  Mefhebro,  and  compelled 
him  to  difcover  to  them  where  their  barnes.  Magazines,  or  flore- 
howfes  were,  and  had  taken  away  his  come ;  and  feemed  to  be 
in  a  pittifuU  perplexity  about  the  matter. 

And,  the  more  to  adde  reputation  to  this  tale,  defires  that 
his  wifes  and  children  might  be  harbered  in  one  of  our  howfes. 
This  was  graunted ;  and  my  neighbours  put  on  corflets,  head- 
peeces,  and  weapons  defenfive  and  offenfive. 

This  thing  being  knowne  to  Cheecatawback,  hee  caufed 
fome  of  his  men  to  bring  the  Narohiganfets  to  trade,  that 
they  might  fee  the  preparation.  The  Salvage,  that  was  a 
Itranger  to  the  plott,  fimply  comming  to  trade,  and  finding 
his  merchants  lookes  like  lobfters,  all  cladd  in  hameffe,  was 
in  a  maze  to  thinke  what  would  be  the  end  of  it.  Hafle  hee 
made  to  trade  away  his  furres,  and  tooke  anything  for  them, 
wifhing  himfelfe  well  rid  of  them  and  of  the  company  in  the 
howfe. 

But  Cas  the  manner  has  bin)  hee  mull  eate  fome  furmety 
before  hee  goe :  downe  he  fits  and  eats,  and  withall  had  an 
eie  on  every  fide ;  and  now  and  then  faw  a  fword  or  a  dagger 
layd  a  thwart  a  head  peece,  which  hee  wondered  at,  and  alked 


m 


ii 


13 

his  giude  whether  the  company  were  not  angry.  The  guide, 
(that  was  privy  to  his  Lords  plot)  anfwered  in  his  language 
that  hee  could  not  tell.  But  the  harmleffe  Salvage,  before  hee 
had  halfe  filled  his  belly,  llarted  up  on  a  fodayne,  and  ranne 
out  of  the  hovvfe  in  fuch  haft  that  hee  left  his  furnietv  there, 
and  ftayed  not  to  looke  behinde  him  who  came  after:  Glad 
hee  was  that  he  had  efcaped  fo. 

The  fubtile  Sachem,  hee  playd  the  tragedian,  and  fained 
a  feare  of  being  furprifed  ;  and  fent  to  fee  whether  the  enemies 
(as  the  MeiTenger  termed  them)  were  not  in  the  howfe ;  and 
comes  in  a  by  way  with  his  wifes  and  children,  and  ftopps  the 
chinkes  of  the  out  howfe,  for  ien^e  the  fire  might  be  feene  in 
the  night,  and  be  a  meanes  to  direct  his  enemies  where  to  finde 
them. 

And,  in  the  meane  time,  hee  prepared  for  his  Ambaffador 
to  his  enemies  a  Salvage,  that  had  lived  12.  moneths  in  Eng- 
land, to  the  end  it  might  adde  reputation  to  his  ambalfage. 
This  man  hee  fends  to  thofe  intruding  Narohiganfets,  to  tell 
them  that  they  did  very  great  injury  to  his  Lord,  to  trench 
upon  his  prerogatives  :  and  advifed  them  to  put  up  their  pipes, 
and  begon  in  time  :  if  they  W'ould  not,  that  his  Lord  would 
come  upon  them,  and  in  his  ayd  his  freinds  the  Englilh,  who 
were  up  in  armes  already  to  take  his  part,  and  compell  them  by 
force  to  be  gone,  if  they  refufed  to  depart  by  faire  meanes. 

This  melTage,  comming  on  the  neck  of  that  which  doubt- 
leffe  the  fearefull  Salvage  had  before  related  of  his  efcape,  and 
what  hee  had  obferved,  caufed  all  thofe  hundred  Narohiganfets 
(that  meant  us  no  hurt)  to  be  gone  with  bagg,  and  baggage. 
And  my  neighboures  were  gulled  by  the  fubtilety  of  this 
Sachem,  and  loft  the  bell  trade  of  beaver  that  ever  they  had 
for  the  time  ;  and  in  the  end  found  theire  error  in  this  kinde 
of  credulity  when  it  was  too  late. 


ced 


0/  a  great  mortality  that  happened  amongJI  the  Natives  of  New 
England,  neere  about  the  time  that  the  Englijh  came  there  to 
plant. 

It  fortuned  fome  few  yeares  before  the  Englifli  came  to  in- 
habit at  new  Plimmouth,  in  New  England,  that  upon  fome 
diftaft  given  in  the  Maflachuffets  bay  by  the  Frenchmen,  then 
trading  there  with  the  Natives  for  beaver,  they  fet  upon  the 
men  at  fuch  advantage  that  they  killed  manie  of  them,  burned 
their  fhipp,  then  riding  at  Anchor  by  an  Kland  there,  now  called 


14 


1^ 


hi 

It' 


ill 


Peddocks  Ifland,  in  memory  of  Leonard  Peddock  that  landed 
there,  (where  many  wilde  Anckies*  haunted  that  time,  which  hee 
thought  had  bin  tame)  dillributing  them  unto  5.  Sachems, 
which  were  Lords  of  the  feverall  territories  adjoyninge :  they 
did  keepe  them  fo  longe  as  they  lived,  onely  to  fport  themfelves 
at  them,  and  made  thefe  five  P'renchmen  fetch  them  wood  and 
water,  which  is  the  generall  worke  that  they  require  of  a  fer- 
vant.  One  of  thefe  five  men,  out  livinge  the  red,  had  learned 
fo  much  of  their  language  as  to  rebuke  them  for  their  bloudy 
deede,  faying  that  God  would  be  angry  with  them  for  it,  and 
that  hee  would  in  his  difpleafure  deflroy  them ;  but  the  Sal- 
vages (it  feemes  boalting  of  their  ftrength,)  replyed  and  fayd, 
that  they  were  fo  many  that  God  could  not  kill  them. 

But  contrary  wife,  in  ihort  time  after  the  hand  of  God  fell 
heavily  upon  them,  with  fuch  a  mortall  (Iroake  that  they  died 
on  heapes  as  they  lay  in  their  houfes ;  and  the  living,  that  were 
able  to  Ihift  for  themselves,  would  runne  away  and  let  them  dy, 
and  let  there  Carkafes  ly  above  the  ground  without  buriall. 
For  in  a  place  where  many  inhabited,  there  hath  been  but  one 
left  a  live  to  tell  what  became  of  the  red ;  the  livinge  being  (as 
it  feemes)  not  able  to  bury  the  dead,  they  were  left  for  Crowes, 
Kites  and  vermin  to  pray  upon.  And  the  bones  and  fkulls 
upon  the  feverall  places  of  their  habitations  made  fuch  a  fpedl- 
acle  after  my  comming  into  thofe  partes,  that,  as  I  travailed  in 
that  Forrert  nere  the  Maffachuffets,  it  feemed  to  mee  a  new 
found  Golgatha. 

But  otherwife,  it  is  the  curtome  of  thofe  Indian  people  to 
bury  their  dead  ceremonioufly  and  carefully,  and  then  to 
abandon  that  place,  becaufe  they  have  no  defire  the  place 
fliould  put  them  in  minde  of  mortality  :  and  this  mortality  was 
not  ended  when  the  Brownifts  of  new  Plimmouth  were  fetled  at 
l^atuxet  in  New  Fngland :  and  by  all  likelyhood  the  fickneffe 
that  thefe  Indians  died  of  was  the  Plague,  as  by  conference 
with  them  fmce  my  arrivall  and  habitation  in  thofe  partes,  I 
have  learned.  And  by  this  meanes  there  is  as  yet  but  a  fmall 
number  of  Salvages  in  New  England,  to  that  which  hath  beene 
in  former  time,  and  the  place  is  made  fo  much  the  more  fitt  for 
the  Englifli  Nation  to  inhabit  in,  and  ere(!;l:  in  it  Temples  to  the 
glory  of  God. 

*TIiis,  as  Mr  Adams  suggests,  is  undoubtedly  a  misprint  for  Anckies,  which  was  a 
sailor's  corruption  for  Auk, —  the  (Jteat  Auk  bemg  probably  the  bird  referred  to  This  bird, 
now  supjiosed  to  he  extinct,  was  formerly  common  on  the  New  Kngland  coast.  Audubon, 
writing  in  1S3S,  says,  "  An  old  gunner  residing  on  Chelsea  Heacli,  near  Hoston,  told  me  that 
he  we  1  remembered  the  time  when  the  Penguins  were  plentiful  about  Nahant  and  some 
Islands  in  the  bay  " 


15 


Of  their  Religion. 

It  has  bin  a  common  receaved  opinion  from  Cicero,  that 
there  is  no  people  fo  barbarous  but  have  fome  worlhipp  or 
other.  In  this  particular,  I  am  not  of  opinion  therein  with 
Tully  ;  and,  furely,  if  hee  had  bin  amonglt  thole  people  fo  longe 
as  I  have  bin,  and  converfed  fo  much  with  them  touching  this 
matter  of  Religion,  hee  would  have  changed  his  opinion. 
Neither  Ihould  we  have  found  this  error,  amongd  the  re(t,  by 
the  helpe  of  that  wodden  profpect,*  if  it  had  not  been  fo  unad- 
vifedly  built  upon  fuch  highe  land  as  that  Coall.  (all  mens 
judgements  in  generall,)  doth  not  yeeld,  had  hee  but  taken  the 
judiciall  councell  of  Sir  William  Alexander,  that  fetts  this  thing 
forth  in  an  exact  and  conclulive  fentence ;  if  hee  be  not  too  ob- 
(linate  ?  hee  would  graunt  that  worthy  writer,  that  thefe  peo- 
ple zx^  fine  fide,  fine  lege,  &' fine  rege,  and  hee  hath  exemplified 
this  thinge  by  a  familiar  demonllration,  which  I  have  by  longe 
experience  obferved  to  be  true. 

And,  me  thinks,  it  is  abfurd  to  fay  they  have  a  kinde  of 
worfliip,  and  not  able  to  demonltrate  whome  or  what  it  is  they 
are  accuflomed  to  worlhip.  For  my  part  I  am  more  willing  to 
beleeve  that  the  Elephants  (which  are  reported  to  be  the 
moil  intelligible  of  all  beafts)  doe  worlhip  the  moone,  for  the 
reafons  given  by  the  author  of  this  report,  as  M"".  Thomas  May, 
the  minion  of  the  Mufes  dos  recite  it  in  his  continuation  of 
Lucans  hifloricall  poem,  rather  then  this  man  :  to  that  I  mull 
bee  conllrained,  to  conclude  againll  him,  and  Cicero,  that  the 
Natives  of  New  England  have  no  worfliip  nor  religion  at  all; 
and  I  am  fure  it  has  been  fo  obferved  by  thofe  that  neede  not 
the  helpe  of  a  wodden  profpecl:  for  the  matter. 

*The  reference  here  is  to  W'ood's  AVrc  Riif^himV s  Pros/>fcl  (p.  70).  In  regard  to 
tlie  time  when  this  work  was  written  and  publislied,  see  Mr.  Deane's  preface  to  the  edition 
in  the  publications  of  tlie  Prhice  Society.  Morton  makes  numerous  references  to  it  in  the 
Xc-u  Citiiaa'!.  .  .  .  The  present  reference  is  one  of  the  few  uninteUigible  passages  in 
the  book.  Wood's  language,  to  wliicli  .Morton  apparently  takes  exception,  is  as  follows: 
".As  it  is  natural  to  all  mortals  to  worship  something,  so  do  these  people;  but  exactly  to 
describe  to  whom  their  worship  is  chiefly  bent,  is  very  difficult;  they  acknowledge  especially 
two,  Ketau,  who  is  their  good  (iod,  to  whom  they  sacrifice  after  their  garners  be  full  with  a 
good  crop:  upon  this  Ooa  likewise  tliey  invorate  for  fair  weatiier,  for  rain  in  time  of  drouglit, 
and  for  the  recovery  of  tlieir  sick;  but  if  they  do  not  hear  them,  then  tliey  verify  the  old 
verse,  Flectere  sinequeo  Supcres,  Acherotitd  movcho,  their  Pow-wows  betaking  themselves 
to  their  exorcisms  and  unromantick  charms.  .  .  .  by  God's  permission,  through  the  Devil's 
help,  their  charms  are  of  force  to  produce  effects  of  wonderment."  .Morton  would  seem  to 
have  wished  to  depreciate  Wood  as  an  authority  on  New  Kneland;  and  so,  pliying  upon  his 
name  and  the  title  of  his  book,  he  implied  that  ne  had  taken  a  much  more  elevated  view  of 
the  religioi-.s  development  of  the  Indians  than  could  be  justified  either  by  the  actual  facts  or 
the  judgment  of  the  best  informed.  Heing  unintelligible,  the  passage,  from  the  word 
"neither"  to  tlie  end  of  the  paragraph,  is  reproduced  here  in  all  respects,  including  punctu- 
ation, as  it  is  in  the  text  of  the  original  edition. —  C.  F.  A  dims. 


•wmrnn 


1 


I 


t  >• 


i  11 


(y  ///«>  ackuowletiqment  of  the  Creation^  and  immortality 

of  the  Soiile. 

Although  thefe  Salvages  are  found  to  be  without  Reli- 
gion, Law,  and  King  (as  Sir  William  Alexander  hath  well  ob- 
ferved,)  yet  are  they  not  altogether  without  the  knowledge  of 
God  (hiflorically) ;  for  they  have  it  aniongft  them  by  tradition 
that  God  made  one  man  and  one  woman,  and  bad  them  live 
together  and  get  children,  kill  deare,  beads,  birds,  filh  and 
fowle,  and  what  they  would  at  their  pleafure  ;  and  that  their 
poflerity  was  full  of  evill,  and  made  God  fo  angry  that  hee  let 
in  the  Sea  upon  them,  and  drowned  the  greaieft  part  of  them, 
that  were  naughty  men,  (the  Lord  deflroyed  fo;)  and  they  went 
to  Sanaconquam,  who  feeds  upon  them  (pointing  to  the  Center 
of  the  Earth,  where  they  imagine  is  the  habitation  of  the 
Devill  :)  the  other,  (which  were  not  dertroyed,)  increafed  the 
world,  and  when  they  died  (becaufe  they  were  good)  went  to 
the  howfe  of  Kytan,  pointing  to  the  fetting  of  the  fonne  ;  where 
they  eate  all  manner  of  dainties,  and  never  take  paines  (as 
now)  to  i^rovide  it. 

Kytan  makes  provifion  (they  fay)  and  faves  them  that 
laboure  ;  and  there  they  fiiall  live  with  him  forever,  voyd  of 
care.  And  they  are  perfwaded  that  Kytan  is  hee  that  makes 
come  growe,  trees  growe,  and  all  manner  of  fruits. 

And  that  wee  that  ufe  the  booke  of  Common  prayer  doo  it 
to  declare  to  ihem,  that  cannot  reade,  what  Kytan  has  com- 
maunded  us,  and  that  wee  doe  pray  to  him  with  the  helpe  of 
that  booke  ;  and  doe  make  fo  much  accompt  of  it,  that  a  Sal- 
vage (who  had  lived  in  my  howfe  before  hee  had  taken  a  wife, 
by  whome  hee  had  children)  made  this  requefl;  to  mee,  (knowing 
that  I  allwayes  ufed  him  with  much  more  rei'pe6l  than  others,) 
that  I  would  let  his  fonne  be  brought  up  in  my  howfe,  that  hee 
mimht  be  taught  to  reade  in  that  booke  •  which  requefl;  of  his  I 
granted  ;  and  hee  was  a  very  joyfull  man  to  thinke  that  his 
fonne  Ihould  thereby  (as  hee  faid)  become  an  Englilhman  :  and 
then  hee  would  be  a  good  man. 

I  afked  him  who  was  a  good  man  ;  his  anfwere  was,  hee  that 
would  not  lye.  nor  fleale. 

Tliefe,  with  them,  are  all  the  capitall  crimes  that  can  be 
imagined;  aP  .ther  are  nothing  in  refpe6t  of  thofe  ;  and  hee 
that  is  free  from  thefe  muft  live  with  Kytan  for  ever,  in  all 
manner  of  pleafure. 


tilt  t^ 


17 


Of  their  Annals  and  funerals.  ,   ■ 

These  people,  that  have  by  tradition  fome  touch  of  the 
immortality  of  the  foule,  have  like  wife  a  cudome  to  make  fome 
monuments  over  the  place  where  the  corps  is  interred  :  But 
they  put  a  greate  difference  betvvene  perfons  of  noble,  and  of 
ignoble,  or  obfcure,  or  inferior  difcent.  For,  indeed,  in  the 
grave  of  the  more  noble  they  put  a  planck  in  the  bottom  for 
the  corps  to  be  layed  upon,  and  on  each  iide  a  plancke,  and  a 
plancke  upon  the  top  in  forme  of  a  che(l,  before  they  cover  the 
place  with  earth.  This  done,  they  erecl  fome  thing  over  the 
grave  in  forme  of  a  hearfe  cloath,  as  was  that  of  Cheekataw- 
backs  mother,  which  the  Plimmouth  planters  defaced  becaufe 
they  accounted  it  an  a6l  of  fuperftition ;  which  did  breede  a 
brawle ;  for  they  hold  impious  and  inhumane  to  deface  the 
monuments  of  the  dead.  They  themfelves  efteeme  of  it  as 
piaculum ;  and  have  a  curtome  amongft  them  to  keepe  their 
annals  and  come  at  certaine  times  to  lament  and  bewaile  the 
lolTe  of  their  freind ;  and  ufe  to  black  their  faces,  which  they 
fo  weare,  inftead  of  a  mourning  ornament,  for  a  longer  or  a 
fliorter  time  according  to  the  dignity  of  the  perfon  :  fo  is  their 
annals  kept  and  obferved  with  their  accuftomed  folemnity. 
Afterwards  they  abfolutely  abandon  the  place,  becaufe  they 
fuppose  the  fight  thereof  will  but  renew  their  forrow. 

It  was  a  thing  very  offenfive  to  them,  at  our  firft  comming 
into  thofe  parts,  to  afke  of  them  for  any  one  that  had  bin  dead; 
but  of  later  times  it  is  not  fo  offenfively  taken  to  renew  the 
memory  of  any  defeafed  perfon,  becaufe  by  our  example  (which 
they  are  apt  to  followe)  it  is  made  more  familiare  unto  them ; 
and  they  marvell  to  fee  no  monuments  over  our  dead,  and 
therefore  thinke  no  great  Sachem  is  yet  come  into  thofe  parts, 
or  not  as  yet  deade ;  becaufe  they  fee  the  graves  all  alike. 


Of  their  Cuflome  in  burning  the  Country^  and  the  renfon  thereof. 

The  Salvages  are  accullomed  to  fet  fire  of  the  Country 
in  all  places  where  they  come,  and  to  burne  it  twize  a  yeare, 
viz. :  at  the  Spring,  and  the  fall  of  the  leafe.  The  reafon  that 
mooves  them  to  doe  fo,  is  becaufe  it  would  other  wife  be  fo 
overgrowne  with  underweedes  that  it  would  be  all  a  coppice 
wood,  and  the  people  would  not  be  able  in  any  wife  to  paffe 
through  the  Country  out  of  a  beaten  path. 


'il 


i8 


:Hi 


■.  m 


The  meanes  that  they  do  it  with,  is  with  certaine  niinerall 
(lones,  that  they  carry  about  them  in  baggs  made  for  that  pur- 
pofe  of  the  Ikinnes  of  little  bealles,  which  they  convert  into 
good  lether,  carrying  in  the  fame  a  peece  of  touch  wood,  very 
excellent  for  that  purpoie,  of  their  owne  making.  Thefe  niin- 
erall (lones  they  have  from  the  I'iquenteenes,  (which  is  to  the 
Southward  of  all  the  plantations  in  New  England,)  by  trade  and 
trafficke  with  thole  people. 

The  burning  of  the  gralTe  dellroys  the  underwoods,  and  lb 
fcorcheth  the  elder  trees  that  it  flirinkes  them,  and  hinders 
their  grouth  very  much  :  fo  that  hee  that  will  looke  to  finde 
large  trees  and  good  tymber,  mull  not  depend  upon  the  help 
of  a  woodden  profpett  to  finde  them  on  the  upland  ground ;  * 
but  mud  feeke  for  them,  (as  I  and  others  have  done,)  in  the 
lower  grounds,  where  the  grounds  are  wett,  when  the  Country 
is  fired,  by  reafon  of  the  fnow  water  that  remaines  there  for 
a  time,  untill  the  Sunne  by  continuance  of  that  hath  exhaled 
the  vapoures  of  the  earth,  and  dried  up  thofe  places  where  the 
fire  (by  reafon  of  the  moillure,)  can  have  no  power  to  doe 
them  any  hurt :  and  if  he  would  endevoure  to  finde  out  any 
goodly  Cedars,  hee  mufl  not  feeke  for  them  on  the  higher 
grounds,  but  make  his  inquell  for  them  in  the  vallies,  for  the 
Salvages,  by  this  cuflome  of  theirs,  have  fpoiled  all  the  rell : 
for  this  cullome  hath  bin  continued  from  the  beginninge. 

And  leafl  their  firing  of  the  Country  in  t'.iis  manner  (hould 
be  an  occafion  of  damnifying  us,  and  indaingering  our  habita- 
tions, wee  our  I'elves  have  ufed  carefully  about  the  fame  times 
to  obferve  the  winds,  and  fire  the  grounds  about  our  owne 
habitations ;  to  prevent  the  Dammage  that  might  happen  by 
any  neglect  thereof,  if  the  fire  lliould  come  neere  thofe  howfes 
in  our  abfence. 

For,  when  the  fire  is  once  kindled,  it  dilates  and  fpreads 
it  felfe  as  well  againfl,  as  with  the  winde ;  burning  continually 
night  and  day,  untill  a  fliower  of  raine  falls  to  quench  it. 

And  this  cuflome  of  firing  the  Country  is  the  meanes  to 
make  it  paffable;  and  by  that  meanes  the  trees  growe  here 
and  there  as  in  our  parks :  and  makes  the  Country  very  beau- 
tifuU  and  commodious. 

*The  reference  is  to  Wood's  AVtk  Knf;litmi's  Prosfn-ct,  p.  13,  where  also  tlie  Indian 
custom  of  firing  tiie  country  in  November  is  described. — Adams. 


'9 


Of  their  inclination  to  Drunkcnncffe. 

Ai.THoroH  Drunkennel'fe  be  juftly  termed  a  vice  which  the 
Salvages  are  ignorant  of,  yet  the  benefit  is  very  great  that  comes 
to  the  planters  by  the  fale  of  llrong  liciiujr  to  the  Salvages, 
who  are  much  taken  with  the  delight  of  it ;  for  they  will  pawne 
their  wits,  to  purchafe  the  acciuaintance  of  it.  ^'et  in  al  the 
commerce  that  I  had  with  them,  I  never  proffered  them  any 
fuch  thing ;  nay,  I  would  hardly  let  any  of  them  have  a  drame, 
unles  hee  were  a  Sachem,  or  a  VVinnaytue,  that  is  a  rich  man, 
or  a  man  of  eflimation  next  in  degree  to  a  Sachem  or  Saga- 
more. I  alwayes  toiild  them  it  was  amongit  us  the  Sachems 
drinke.  15ut  they  fay  if  I  come  to  the  Northerne  parts  of  the 
Country  I  ihall  have  no  trade,  if  I  will  not  fupply  them  with 
lully  liquors  :  it  is  the  life  of  the  trade  in  all  thofe  parts  :  for  it 
fo  happened  that  thus  a  Salvage  defperately  killed  himfelfe; 
when  hee  was  drunke,  a  gunne  being  charged  and  the  cock  up, 
hee  fets  the  mouth  to  his  bred,  and,  putting  back  the  tricker 
with  his  foote,  Ihot  himfelfe  dead. 


That  the  Salvages  live  a  contended  life, 

A  Gentleman  and  a  traveller,  that  had  bin  in  the  parts  of 
New  England  for  a  time,  wh  ^n  hee  retorned  againe,  in  his  dif- 
course  of  the  Country,  wondered,  (as  hee  faid,)  that  the  natives 
of  the  land  lived  fo  poorely  in  fo  rich  a  Country,  like  to  our 
Beggers  in  England.  Surely  that  Gentleman  had  not  time  or 
leafure  whiles  hee  was  there  truely  to  informe  himfelfe  of  the 
ftate  of  that  Country,  and  the  happy  life  the  Salvages  would 
leade  weare  they  once  brought  to  Ch'-iftianity. 

I  mull  confeffe  they  want  the  ufe  and  benefit  of  Naviga- 
tion, (which  is  the  very  finnus  of  a  flouriihing  Commonwealth,) 
yet  are  they  fupplied  with  all  manner  of  needefull  things  for  the 
maintenance  of  life  and  lifelyhood.  Foode  and  rayment  are  the 
cheife  of  all  that  we  make  true  ufe  of ;  and  of  thefe  they  finde 
no  want,  but  have,  and  may  have,  them  in  a  mofl  plentifull 
manner. 

If  our  beggers  of  England  fhould,  with  fo  much  eafe  as 
they,  furnifli  themfelves  with  foode  at  all  feafons,  these  would 
not  be  fo  many  ftarved  in  the  ftreets,  neither  would  fo  many 
gaoles  be  fluffed,  or  galloufes  furniflied  with  poore  wretches,  as 
I  have  feene  them. 


20 


51   '■: 


ii  , 


But  they  of  this  fort  of  our  owne  nation,  that  are  fitt  to  goe 
to  this  Canaan,  are  not  able  to  tranfport  themfelves ;  and  moil 
of  them  unwilling  to  goe  from  the  good  ale  tap,  which  is  the 
very  loadllone  of  the  lande  by  which  our  Knglilh  beggers  fteere 
theire  Courfe ;  it  is  the  Northpole  to  which  the  llowre-de-luce 
of  their  compaffe  points.  The  more  is  the  pitty  that  the  Com- 
monalty of  oure  Land  are  of  fuch  leaden  capacities  as  to  neg- 
lect fo  brave  a  Country,  that  doth  fo  plentifully  feede  maine 
lufty  and  a  brave,  able  men,  women  and  children,  that  have  not 
the  meanes  that  a  Civilized  Nation  hath  to  purchafe  foode  and 
rayment ;  which  that  Country  with  a  little  induftry  will  yeeld  a 
man  in  a  very  comfortable  meafure,  without  overmuch  carking. 

I  cannot  deny  but  a  civilized  Nation  hath  the  prehemi- 
nence  of  an  uncivilized,  by  meanes  of  thofe  inllruments  that  are 
found  to  be  common  amongrt  civile  people,  and  the  uncivile 
want  the  ufe  of,  to  make  themfelves  mailers  of  thofe  ornaments 
that  make  fuch  a  glorious  fliew,  that  will  give  a  man  occafion  to 
cry,  Jic  tranfit  gloria  Mundi. 

Now  fmce  it  is  but  foode  and  rayment  that  men  that  live 
needeth,  (though  not  all  alike,)  why  fhould  not  the  Natives  of 
New  England  be  fayd  to  live  richly,  having  no  want  of  either  ? 
Cloaths  are  the  badge  of  fmne ,  and  the  more  variety  of  fafli- 
ions  is  but  the  greater  abufe  of  the  Creature :  the  beafts  of  the 
forrert  there  doe  ferve  to  furnifli  them  at  any  time  when  they 
pleafe  :  fi(h  and  Hefli  they  have  in  greate  abundance,  which 
they  both  roall  and  boyle. 

They  are  indeed  not  ferved  in  difhes  of  plate  with  variety 
of  Sauces  to  procure  appetite;  that  needs  not  there.  The 
rarity  of  the  aire,  begot  by  the  medicinable  quality  of  the  fweete 
herbes  of  the  Country,  always  procures  good  (tomakes  to  the 
inhabitants. 

I  mull  needs  commend  them  in  this  particular,  that,  though 
they  buy  many  commodities  of  our  Nation,  yet  they  keepe  but 
fewe,  and  thofe  of  fpeciall  ufe. 

They  love  not  to  bee  cumbered  with  many  utenfilles,  and 
although  every  proprietor  knowes  his  owne,  yet  all  things,  (fo 
long  as  they  will  lafl),  are  ufed  in  common  amongft  them  :  A 
bifket  cake  given  to  one,  that  one  breakes  it  equally  into  fo 
many  parts  as  there  be  perfons  in  his  company,  and  dillributes 
it.  Platoes  Commonwealth  is  fo  much  pra6lifed  by  thefe 
people. 

According  to  humane  reafon,  guided  onely  by  the  light  of 
nature,  thefe  people  leades  the  more  happy  and  freer  life,  being 


i'l'rr  .. 


21 


voyde  of  care,  which  torments  the  mindes  of  fo  many  Chrillians  : 
They  are  not  delighted  in  baubles,  but  in  ufefull  things. 

'I'heir  naiurall  drinke  is  of  the  Cridall  fountaine,  and  this 
they  take  up  in  their  hands,  by  joyning  them  clofe  together. 
They  take  up  a  great  (juantity  at  a  time,  and  drinke  at  the 
wrids.  It  was  the  fight  of  fuch  a  feate  v.hich  made  Diogenes 
hurle  away  his  dilhe,  and,  like  one  that  would  have  this  princi- 
pal! confirmed,  Natura  panels  confrniat,  ufed  a  dilli  no  more. 

I  have  obferved  that  they  will  not  be  troubled  with  fuper- 
fluous  cf)mmodities.  Such  things  as  they  finde  they  are  taught 
by  necellity  to  make  ufe  of,  they  will  make  choife  of,  and  feeke 
to  purchafe  with  indullry.  So  that,  in  refpect  that  their  life  is 
fo  voyd  of  care,  and  they  are  fo  loving  alfo  that  they  make  ufe 
of  thofe  things  they  enjoy,  (the  wife  onely  excepted,)  as  com- 
mon goods,  and  are  therein  fo  compafTionate  that,  rather  than 
one  fliould  ftarve  through  want,  they  would  ftarve  all.  Thus 
doe  they  paffe  awaye  the  time  merrily,  not  regarding  our 
pompe,  (which  they  fee  dayly  before  their  faces,)  but  are  better 
content  with  their  owne,  which  fome  men  efteeme  fo  meanely  of. 

They  may  be  rather  accompted  to  live  richly,  wanting 
nothing  that  is  needefull ;  and  to  be  commended  for  leading  a 
contented  life,  the  younger  being  ruled  by  the  Elder,  and  the 
Elder  ruled  by  the  Powahs,  and  the  Powahs  are  ruled  by  the 
Devill ;  *  and  then  you  may  imagin  what  good  rule  is  like  to 
be  amongll  them. 

*  Morton  says  of  the  Indian  conjurers,  "Some  correspondency  they  have  with  the 
Devill  out  of  all  cloubt''  ;  Wood,  to  the  same  effect,  remarks  that  "by  (Jod's  permission, 
through  the  Devil's  helpe,  their  charmes  are  of  force  to  produce  effects  of  wonderment" ; 
Smith  declares  of  the  Indians,  "Their  chiefe  (Jod  they  worship  is  the  Devil"  ;  and  Mather 
intimates  that  it  was  the  devil  who  seduced  the  first  inhabitants  of  America  into  it.  —  Adiinis. 


-yt 


Hi 


!-vi 


mi 


■M,i< 


Thomas  M<)rt<in,  the  .iiilhur  of  tlie  Xfiu  F.n\;liih  Cdiiiutu,  is  known  to 
the  stiidtMit  of  New  I  England  history  as  one  of  the  adventiircis,  of  wlioni 
Captain  NVollaston  was  the  leader,  who  established  thcnselves  at  Mount 
Wollaston,  in  the  limits  of  the  present  town  of  Quiiicy,  in  1625.  Not  much 
is  known  of  his  early  life.  He  styles  himself,  on  the  title-page  of  his  book, 
"of  Cliffords  Inne  gent."  I  lis  reputation  was  not  good,  one  authority  even 
stating  that  he  had  tied  to  New  Kngland  *•  upon  a  foule  suspitioii  f-f  niurther." 
Itut  this  was  at  a  time  when  htmian  life  was  held  cheaj)  in  many  quarters. 
We  are  only  sure  that  he  was  a  reckless  fellow,  of  looser  morals  than  the 
I'uritans  whose  neighbor  he  became.  Allusions  in  the  JVnu  i'tinaan  show 
that  he  had  been  a  man  fond  of  field  sports,  and  that  he  had  Iwen  much 
of  a  traveler.  They  show  too  that  he  had  been  to  Massachusetts  iJay  before 
1625.  He  says  at  the  beginning  of  the  second  book:  "In  the  month  of 
June,  Anno  .Salutis  1622,  it  was  my  chance  to  arrive  in  the  i)arts  of  New 
Kngland  with  thirty  servants,  and  provision  of  all  sorts  fit  for  a  plantation; 
and,  while  our  houses  were  building,  I  did  endeavor  to  take  a  survey  of  the 
cotmtry."  This  was  probably  in  connection  with  Weston's  settlement  at 
Wessagusset.  lie  tells  us  on  his  title-page  that  his  book  was  writtei 
•*  upon  tenne  yeares  knowledge  and  experiment  of  the  country." 

Of  Morton's  life  with  his  men  at  Merry  Mount,  as  he  called  Mount 
Wollaston,  after  Wollaston  himself,  in  1626,  went  away,  of  his  trade  with 
the  Indians  for  furs,  and  the  guns  and  rum  he  sold  them,  of  his  revelries 
and  orgies,  culminating  in  the  famous  episode  of  the  May-pole,  and  of  his 
final  arrest  and  expulsion  by  the  good  peo])le  of  Plymouth,  all  can  read 
in  the  books.  The  fullest  and  best  account  is  that  by  Charles  P'rancis 
Adams,  Jr.,  ])refi.\ed  to  the  beautiful  edition  of  the  Ni'w  Eiiii^Ush  Caiiaiiii 
which  he  i)repared  for  publication  by  the  Prince  Society.  Everybody  will 
remember  Hawthorne's  delightful  sketch,  The  May-pole  0/  Merry  Mount ; 
but  many  may  not  remember  that  Motley,  when  he  was  a  very  young  ;nun, 
before  he  began  his  great  histories,  made  this  interesting  episode  \\\  our 
early  New  England  history  the  theme  of  a  novel :  Merry  Mount,  n  Romance 
of  the  Massnchnsett:  Colony. 

Whatever  we  may  think  of  Morton's  character  —  and  it  was  probably 
not  so  bad  as  IJradfonl  and  the  Puritans  painted  it  —  his  book,  which  he 
called  jVexu  Ca/taan  in  satire  upon  the  strong  Old  Testament  character  of 
the  fathers  of  New  England  who  troubled  him,  has  a  distinct  value.  It  is 
in  three  sections  or  books:  "The  first  Booke  setting  forth  the  originall 
cf  the  Natives,  their  Manners  and  Customes,  together  with  their  tractable 
Nature  and  Love  towards  the  English.  The  second  Hooke  setting  forth 
the  natural  Indowments  of  the  Country,  and  what  staple  Commodities  it 
yealdeth.  The  third  I]ooke  setting  forth,  what  people  are  planted  there, 
their  prosperity,  what  remarkable  accidents  have  happened  since  the  first 


»3 

plantlnR  of  It,  togcth-.r  with  their  Tcnents  and  practice  of  thi  ir  ("luirch." 
The  first  chapter  of  the  first  book  i.s  (le\  >te(l  to  "  I'rooving  New  J'iiigland 
the  principall  part  of  all  America,  and  mont  commodious  and  fitt  for 
habitation";  the  second  Is  "  ( »f  the  original!  of  the  Natives,"  a  fantastic 
argument  that  the  Indians  were  (lesc(;n(lants  of  "  the  scatturtd  Trojans"; 
thi  seventh  is  "  ( )f  their  Child-bearing,  and  delivery,  and  what  ni  inner 
of  persons  tliey  are."  These  thr(  e  i  haptcis,  of  tlie  twenty  lonstituting  the 
first  book,  are  omitted  in  this  leaHet  ;  the  remaindtr  of  this  book  is  here 
given,  the  order  slightly  changed.  Mr.  Adams's  notes  in  the  complete 
work  will  be  consulted  by  the  careful  student. 

Whatever  controversies  there  may  be  r)ver  the  third  book,  whii  h  con- 
tains the  account  of  Morton's  own  career  in  New  Kngland,  the  earlier  books, 
as  containing  the  observations  of  one  of  the  first  comers  to  New  Kngland 
upon  the  nalt  '.I  history  f)f  the  country  and  the  aborigines,  possess  a  real 
scientific  interi.  t.  Morton  made  many  mistakes,— Trumbull  rem;uks  that 
he  could  not  write  the  most  simple  Indian  word  without  a  blunder, —  but  he 
was  a  lover  of  all  out-door  things,  he  was  a  curious  and  observing  man, 
and  he  had  a  singularly  sympathetic  feeling  toward  the  Indians  and  came 
to  know  them  well;  and  what  he  writes  has  therefore  a  value  besides  that 
which  attaches  to  its  a^e  and  history.  "  Passionately  fo»d  of  field  sports," 
says  Mr.  Adams,  "  Morton  found  ample  opportunity  for  the  indulgence  of 
his  tastes  in  New  lingland.  lie  loved  to  ramble  through  the  woods  with 
his  dog  and  gun,  or  sail  in  his  boat  on  the  bay.  The  Indians,  too,  were  his 
allies,  and  n£.turally  enough  ;  for  not  only  did  he  offer  them  an  open  and 
easy-going  market  for  their  furs,  but  he  was  companionable  with  them. 
They  shared  in  his  revels.  He  denies  that  he  was  in  the  habit  of  selling 
them  spirits,  but  where  spirits  were  as  freely  used  as  Morton's  account 
shows  they  were  at  Merry  Mount,  the  Indians  undoubtedly  had  their 
share." 


In  1634,  three  years  before  the  appearance  of  Morton's  A't-rc  /;//i,V/.i// 
Canaan,  William  Wood,  who  had  come  over  in  1629,  published  his  AWi' 
Eiii^laitiVs  Prospect,  which  contains  much  upon  the  manners  and  customs  of 
the  Indians.  The  student  should  compare  the  statements  in  this  early  work, 
which  is  an  important  one  on  many  accounts  for  the  student  of  early  New 
Kngland  history,  with  those  of  Morton.  Morton  was  familiar  with  what 
Wood  had  written  about  the  Indians,  and  refers  to  the  work  more  than  once 
in  his  Nero  Canaan.  About  forty  years  after  Wood  and  Morton  w  ote 
(1674),  Josselyn  published  his  T100  Voyages,  with  valuable  accounts  of  the 
Indians  of  New  England ;  and  there  is  also  much  of  value  scattered  through 
the  pages  of  Winslow's   Good  A'e-vs-,  Mather's  Magnalia,  and  Lechford's 


24 


«■  r 
in 


; 


Plaiiic  Dealiiii:;,  as  well  as  in  the  works  of  Bradford,  Roger  Williams,  and 
others  of  the  fathers.  Very  full  accounts  of  all  these  early  writings,  as 
well  as  of  the  later  literature  upon  the  Indians,  both  of  New  England  and 
the  southern  colonies,  will  be  found  in  the  notes  by  Justin  Winsor  in  the 
first  volume  of  the  Narrative  and  Critical  Ift story  of  America,  and  the  first 
volume  of  the  Memorial  History  of  Boston. 

James  Adair's  History  of  the  American  Indians,  published  in  1775,  was 
the  first  general  history  of  the  Indians,  and  is  quite  fu'l  in  its  accounts  of 
Indian  manners  and  customs;  but  Adair's  studies  were  chiefly  of  the  Ind- 
ians south  of  New  England.  Schoolcraft's  great  work  on  Tlie  Indian 
Tribes  of  the  United  States  has  important  sections  devoted  to  general  his- 
tory and  manners  and  customs.  Schoolcraft's  work  has  been  abridged  and 
published  in  two  volumes,  edited  by  Francis  S.  Drake,  which  will  be  more 
convenient  and  useful  for  many  than  the  larger  work.  Mr.  Drake  is  also 
the  author  of  an  Indian  History  for  Young  Folks.  The  first  two  chapters, 
*' What  we  know  about  the  American  Indians,"  and  "  Early  European  In- 
tercourse with  the  Indians,"  are  closely  related  to  subjects  touched  by 
Morton.  The  best  single  book  for  older  readers  is  Rev.  George  E.  Ellis's 
The  Red  Man  and  the  White  Man  in  North  America.  Its  early  chapters 
upon  the  origin,  numbers,  and  character  of  the  Indians  are  clear  and  full; 
and  the  historical  portion,  covering  the  whole  time  from  the  founding  of  the 
colonies  to  the  present,  is  interesting  and  just.  Dr.  Ellis's  valuable  essays 
on  the  Indians,  in  the  Narrative  and  Critical  History  of  America  and  the 
Memorial  History  of  Boston,  should  be  consulted  in  connection. 


i#«' 


.    'pi  - 


liir 


